Trench digger



, y if 14 March 31. 1925. 1,531,155

J. C. RADOVICH -TRENCH rBIGGER Original Filed Nov. 15I 1920 2 Shouts-Sheet 1 l d 6 x 33 INVENTORY,

Jo/1n. C Fadowc/IJ' Much 31. 1925. 1,531,155

J. C. RADOVlCH mman 11n-,erm

0113111111 Filed Nov; 15, 1920 2 shuts-sheet 2 INVENTOR, tja/m C.' Padana/7J ATTORNEY. J

the showing in Figure 1 represents one-half of the frame member, are pedestal members 4. (See Fig. 4.) Said pedestal members 4 are provided with bearings as at 5. Gudgeons 6 are confined within the bearing member 5, as at 7, and said gudgeons are connected with a member'D which is used for verticalizing the endless conveyer C. Rigidly attached to one or both of said gudgeons is means E which is also used for verticalizing the endless conveyer C. The means E comprises an arm 8 joined with the gudgeon ASand the opposite end of each arm 8 is provided with a curved T-head v9, the outer periphery of which as at 10, is provided with teeth 11. The means E is really a segment gear provided with an extended arm member 8, the teeth .11 of said gear meshing with teeth on a member 12. Thus by rotating the member 12, which really comprises a wheel 13 mounted on the shaft 14, said gear carrying the teeth, the segment is caused to move upwardly or downwardly and as the arm 8 is rigidly fixed to the gudgeon 6 the member` D is caused to revolve backwardly or .forwardly as the case Amay be. Tt may be easier to describe the motion given to the member D through the medium of the member E, by saying that the member D is caused to rotate either clockwise or anticlockwise. Referring to Figures 2 and 3 it willr be observed that the member D is box-likev lin section with one of the sides interrupted. The member D therefore comprises an extended side member 15, end

members 16 and 17 and interrupted side portions 18 and 19, said side portions being in spacedvrelation to the side 15 and parallel therewith. Thus portions of the mem" ber D as @Z included between the sides 18 and 15 and the end 17, and the side portions 19 and 15 and the end 1G, serve to house and act as guides for certain members used in verticalizing the scoop members C, as well as lowering the scoop members according to the depth of the trench desired. Referring to Figure 2 a frame member G has two of its -sides as 20 and 21 operating within a portion of the space d. The sides 20 and 21 are 1n the form of a grooved rackbar, that is to say, an outer` edge'of each of the members 20 and 21 is provided with spaced teeth 22 and the oppositeedges as at 23 and 24 of the said members 2O and 21 are internally recessed or grooved as at 25. The sides 18,19 and 15 are provided with curved slots 26, and Within the spaces (l of the member D are confined the U-shaped members 27 and 281 and which members are attached to 2O and 21, said members 27 and 28 inturn embrace a spur gear 29 and a spur gear 30. Shafts 31 and 32 pass through the slotted portions 26 and maintain the spur gears 29 and 3()l in position. Joined with the Ushaped member 27 is a threaded handle member 33 passing through a threaded perforation in a spherical unit (not shown) confined within the end 17 as shown at 33a. Link members 35 and 36 join with the shafts 31 and 32 so that by turning the handle 33 the shafts are caused to traverse the slotte-d portions 26 either forwardly or backwardly. The spur gears 29 and 30 have their teeth meshing with the teeth 22 of t-he members 2O and 21 respectively. Thus, asthe handle 33 is rotated the members 20 and 21 are caused to move. 1t will be observed that the llower half of the member D is likewise provided with handle means 33, and in or der to verticalize the members 2O and 21 it is necessary that both the upper and lower handles 33 be rotated.

Referring to Figure 2 in speaking of rotation, the movement would be either clock wise or anti-clockwise, assuming the ligure is in theplane of the paper. As shown in Figures 2 and 3 additional crank means are provided, which crank means join with the shafts 32. The shaft 31 and the shaft 32 are each provided with a sprocket wheel 35a, which is: detachably joined with their respective shafts. Playing over the teeth of said sprocket wheels is an endless chain 36a. is the teeth of the gears 29 and 30 mesh with the teeth 22 of the members 20 and 21, a rotation of the handle members 34 willl cause the members 2O and 21 to move upwardly or downwardly. This upward or of the frame member clockwise or anti` clockwise would cause a twistin the same. However, this is Vnot the case, and the frame member G is provided with bracing means 37 and 38. Additional bracing means is provided at the extremities of the frame member Gr, the latter bracing means comprising shafts 39 and 4() mounted in suitable journals 41 and 41a in the members 2O and 21. Upon said shafts are placed sprocket wheels 42, 43, 44, 45, and 4ta. lt is to be understood that the sprocket wheels 43, 44 and 45, on the shafts 39 and 40 are midway between the members 20 and 21, while the sprocket wheels 42 and 46 are located at the extremities of the shaftsf39 and 40, and on the outside edge of the members 2O and 21. ln order to aid in the verticalizing of the frame member Gr additional means H is provided. Said means is in the form of a double T. That is to say, the means H has an lextended length 47 provided with angularly disposedk extremities '48 and 49 at each end of the member 47. Said extremillt) ties 48 and 49 lit within the grooved porion 25 of the members 20 and 2l. A wheel member 50 is rigidly attached to a projection 5l integrally formed with the member47. Thus by turning the member 50 and at 'the same time revolving the handle means either in one direction or the other, it is possible to aid in the verticalizing of the frame member G. In order to maintain rigidity in the means H the projection 5l extends through a hole 52 in the side 15, and likewise through a hole 58 in a loi-shaped bracing member 54,. said bracing member being); provided with angularly disposed end members and 56 rigidly attached to the side member l5. The endless conveyor C includes endless chain members 57, 58, 59, 60 and 6l playing over the sprocket wheels, both upper and lower, 42, 43, 44, 45 and 46. The members 57, 58, 60 and 6l are constructed in a particular manner, best il* lustrated in Figures 5, 6 and 7, said chain members including short link members 62 joined with a slightly curved -gember 653, and said member 63 including a curved part 64 and a diamond shaped inteeral extension 65 formed with an upward projection 66. The end oi the projection 66 is sharpened at 67. The extension. 65 and projection 66 comprise a spade member. It is noted that the lengt-hs 62 are pivotally joined to the member 68. A plurality of the members just described are provided. At the elbow portion as 68 between the members 65 and 66 is a perforation 69. A bucket member J provided with gudgeons 70 located on said bucket member as at 7l, plays within the perforations 69. We have been speaking in a singular sense; however, itis to be understood that the chain members 57, 58, 66 and 61 are all identically formed and correspond to the showing in Figures 5, 6 and 7. Thus the bucket members eX- tend in one set as at e between theI chain members 57 and 58, while another set as at extends between the chain members 60 and 6l. By providing' the perforations 69, the bucket members ,l are pivotally supported between their respective chain members, whether they be in the c section or the f section. @bviously there might be other sections, depending upon the oit the trench digger. 'l'he buckets J include a bottom wall 72, side walls 78 and end walls 74and 75. it is to be noted that the end wall is much higher than the end wall 74. lt is 4necessary to so make the walls, due to the curvature of the member 68. The bucket member J is ot course open at the top and is supported at two points, one at the pivot point, as has been described, and the other at a link point 62, as shown at 76, the .links being` in reality shackle members, in order that the teeth of the sprocket wheels may be contlned within the members 62 to cause rotation of the conveyor C. Each of the bucki y et members!)r has mounted upon an end 75 upwardly extending' and pointed spade members 77, 78 and 79.` The members 77 and 79 are iinedly joined to the end 75 by means of bolts 80. lt is-V also 'to be noted that the spade membersl'?, 7 8 and 7 9 are so placed on the end 75 of the bucket `member J that they are in spaced relation to each other. l'he spade member 78 `is divided as at 8l, and for a purpose about to'be set` forth. The lower portion of, the spade. members 7 8 as at 7 8a may move upwardly or downwardly. To accomplish the upward or downward movement the member 7 8a is slotted at 82 and 82a and bolt members 88l heads 88 and 89 said enlare'ed heads beine'l provided with staggered and angularly disposed end portions 90 and 91. ,'Mounted upon the member 78a are members 92 and 98 which members lco-act with the members 90 and 91, as shown in Figure 8. The opi posite ends of the members 86 and 87 are beveled and play normally within holes`94 located in the members 66 as at 95 and 96. See F To retain the members 86 and 87 in position straps 97 are provided, which straps are joined with the spade' members 77 and 78, and also with the vends 75. Sier-v rounding the members 86 and `87' are compression springs 98 and 99. One end of each spring 100 and lOl fastened into theend member 7 5,4 while the other end is fastened to the members 86 and 87 respectively. Thus the members 86 and 87 are normally urged outward y in opposite direct-ions in `order t that their ends as 95 and 96 may engage the perfor-ations 94 and securely lock the bucket members J 1n a position similar to that shown in Figures 5 and 6. Now, it the. j

projection were to be pushed downwardly the member 78a would move a corresponding distance, and the projections 92 and 98 coming into Contact with ,the staggered inner wal-l or" the member would tend to pull the members 86 and 87 together and release the end portions and 96 from the iiertorations 94 and allow the bucket to be swung into the position shown in Figure 7. Ot course the tension means 98 and 99 tend to resist,

all movement of the projection 85 downloo wardly, and when the bucket member isV thrown into the position as shown in Figure. 5, the beveled ends of the members 86 and 87 quickly pass into thek pertorations 94 ,tol

' the motive elements tor moving; ehoins.

i nieinbers J.

include-s convex roller ineinbers 11'? againy loelr the buolret ineniber J. rEhe continue'us` chain member 59 which passes over the sprocket Wheels 114, both upper and lower, acts as e. prime rnover for all the bucket Seid chain ineinber 59 plissee over s sprocket Wheel 102, which sprocket wheel is lsuitably mounted' upon e. shattjourneled to the ohessis B. Another sprocket rncinber 103 is mounted upon rthe shaft and hes a. continuous ehe-in member 10ft pli.ying' over they seine. Said chain ineinber ite likewise passes over air sprocket Wheel not shoiv in the drawing', located nponthe elf-fis sis B es at 105.v A. standard 106l is niounted upon the chassis es et 107, seid stendard being provided if th a journeled been ing .108; @i shaft 109 is confinedWithin seid bearing, and nnen seid shaft is mounted :i sprocket Wheel 110. 1t is upon the shafty 109 that Vthe sprocket Wheel mentioned above, es not being' shown, is likewise mounted. Beneath the traino ineinber 1 or' the chassis B is en edditionei derd 111 provided with e joeri l contines e shaft 1152. u sproeliet Wheels 113 and 11e A Continuous chain ineinher 1 the sprocket Wheels 11d and 15.0, e id t nieinber 116 plays over the spree et 113.

The ehein 116 likewise connecs with rlhus, it We assur e the ino-tive eleinents operating, the choin 11G Wil tend to inoveell eheins mo-vebly 'joined therewith, the consequence being that the endless conveyor il will connnenee its movement in :in enti-eicel;- Wise direotion, looking;- in the plone ot' 'the peper et Figure 1. the endless oonveyer with its associated spades and eucliet members corinne-nee its downivslfi inovenient the spades eoine into contr-ct 'with the earth end dig into the seine nid sooop up the dirt into the buckets, and the buelrets then lnove upwardly. 1t then becomes neceszs y to in some manner trip the buckets so that the earth coni-ined Within tl e seine be pssed to seine point away trein the trench. In order to do this 1 heve proi'fided e torni' of traveling conveyor l. Seid c .iveyer l suitably journeled in e freine nierober 118, which is izredly lioined to e. side et the ineniber D es shown it 119. The e idless eonveyer L extended length es sho-Wn in Figure 1, end over the roller members 117 phiysl :inv endless belt 76. An inoiined slioe 120 is mounted in connection with the iii-einher 118 et 121, seid in lined slide ei ending,` so that it may come into contest Vith the projection on the scoop or bucket members (i, thus tripping the buelret nieniber d is shown in Figure 1 et 129 iand eilovfii D the contents of seid boeket inen'iber to slide downwardly upon seid inclined piene 120 oud thence on to the endless belt for delivery to zi dump Wagon located preferably beneath point es shown at 123. 1t is necessary ot course to use seine propulsive means to cause the endless belt to ino ve. 1n order to do this one more ot theroller ineinbers 11T are inoiinted upon shafts 1211-, one end oit which 'shefft es et 125 is provided with e. beveled 126. The teeth or" seid beveled iii-.eeh with the teeth ot another beveled gear seid sproelet wheel the chain plf Thus when the chain nieves the spreche Wheel is rotated and in turn the roller 11'? will likewise be rotated and te l toinove the endless belt .75.

is presumed that the description es explains to e certsin ezltent the opon ot' the device. However, the tot 'Wing additions-l remarks iney be oi eid.

Assuming that the chassis hss. been joined with seine trucs, the chassis iney be with its attendent features transported to ny point desired.` To do this the Wheel. 13 is rotated so that the conveyor C ivill be out ot centeet with the groiind and the chassis i3 allowed to travel. upon th Wheels 2. 1t the trench to be dug were on a. hill end it wes desired to dig en np-find-down trench perfectly vertical, vertieelizing might he eeeoinplished hy placing o sinell cerpenter's level upon the nieinber D so that the bubble in seid ievel Would register et the center when the conveyor C Wes level. The verticsliraing; equires two distinct operetiond# one e turning; of the hand Wheel 13 so s to adinet the rtraine G, referringto Figure 1, either. eloelrwise or entisoloel-vrise; turning the Wheel 50, es Well. the hand e nienibers 33, referring' to Figure 4L, so to adjust the freine n'ieinher either Gioele Wise or steth/clockwise. litter v'the vertieelizing; operation has been performed the niotive power may be switched on and the oonyeyer will its nioveinent in th direction shown by the curved arrow in Figure 1. As the spades Corne into eonteet with the ground the dirt Will be dug into, picked up by the bnehets, deposited on the endless beit and conveyed to a dump Wegen or cert located beneath point 12. The buckets will then in their open vposition pass up- Werdiy, and es they siting over the upper sproclret Wheels L12 and 48, and also L15 and 15, they will tend to close and yvhen so closed the look members Will maintain the seine in position ready 'tor another scooping; ofthe earth. ris it is necessary to prol'di) allyv moved downwardly. After a certain depth of trench l'ias been reaclied lt is only ne" sary to back the chassis B so tbat tbe trench may be of extended length. lt to 4mm# LLLLU be noted upon reiceiiiiir;- to Figure trench digger, including an endless conveyer, spade members and'scoop members associated 'with said conveyor, means for causing said conveyer to move, and means for verticaliring` said conveyer, so that a vertical trench may be dug regardless ot the slope o'f tlie ground upon ivliicli said conveyor is operated; said verticali:nim`

means including,` means for rotating; said conveyor laterally, backwardly and foru'ardly.

A trencli digger, including` an endless conveyor, spade members and scoop inenr bers associated with said convejver, 'for causing said conveyor to move, and means for verticalizing said convei'e tbat a vertical trench may be dug regardless of tbe slope ot tlie ground upon vfliicli sa conveyer is operated; said scoop .n'ielnbers being pivotallv joined to said spade members, means being provided for maintaining said scoop members in position.

3. A trencli digger, including an endless conveyer, spade members and scoop members associated with said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor, and means for verticalizing said conveyer, so that aA vertical trench may be dug regardless of the slope of tlie ground upon Wliicli said conveyer is operated; said scoop members being pivotally joined to tbe spade members, means being provided for maintaining said scoop members in position; and means including locking elements associated with said spades and with tbe scoop members.

il. A trencli digger, including an endless conveyer, spade members and scoop members associated with said conveyor, means for moving said conveyor, and means lor verticalizing said conveyer, so that a vertical trench may be dug regardless of tbe scope of tbe ground upon which said conveyer is operated; said scoop members being pivotally oined to tbe spade members, means beingprovided 'for maintaining said scoop members in position; said means including locking elements associated with said spades and With the scoop members;

means being provided v'upon said scoop inembers for releasingv tbe lock-so as to -alloirtbe scoop member to discharge its"contents.V

',ncli digger, including, an endless L spade members and scoop memassociated vitli'said conveyor, means for said convey/er to move, and means or vciiicalising said conveyor, so tliata rencli having vertical side and endWa'lls v be dug; regardless-ofthe slope 'of tli'e ground v up i ivliicli conveyer is operated' d endless conveyor being' provided uutli a frame. maribel-,there being jcurnaled portions at tbe ends yoli said trame member, and shafts, confined Within said jourualed portions and sprocket Wlieels'upon' said sha-Ets; said endless conveyer also beprovider with cliain members playingover sait sprocket ivliee-ls. i

6. A trench digger, including' an endless conveyer, spade members and scoop members associated with said conveyor, means for causing; said conveyerto move,'and means for verticalizing said conveyor, sothat a vertical trench may be dug regardless of tbe slope of tbe ground upon which said confever is operated; said endless conveyor being provided With a frame member, there being journaled portions at tbe ends of said iframe member, and slia'fts confined Within said journaled portions and sprocket wheels upon said shafts; said endless con@ veyer also being,v provided with chain memb,. playing over said sprocket Wheels; said scoop members being lield betvveenpairs of said last named cliain members.

7. A trencli digger, including an endlessV convejver,- spade membersand scoop members associated with said conveyer, means for causing said conveyer to move, andl means for verticalizing said conveyor, so'

that a vertical trencli may-be dug regardless of tlie slope of the ground upon which said conveyer is operated; said endless co-nveyer being provided Witli a frame member, there being journaled portions at the ends ot said frame member, and shafts conlined Within said journaled portions and sprocket Wheels upon said shafts; said endless conveyor also being provided with cliain members playing over said sprocket Wheels; there being,- bucket members held between pairs of said. last named cliain members; eaclil of said chain members being provided With out ivardly projecting` spades and the said bucket members being journaled to said spades.

8.` A trench digger, including an endless conveyer, spade members and scoop members associated with said conveyer, means for moving said conveyer, and means for verticalizing said conveyor, so that a vertical trench may be dug regardless of the slope of the ground upon which said conveyer is operated; said scoop members being pivotany joined, to the. Spade members, means being provided for maintaining,` seid Scoop members 1ny position; said means including` locking elements associated with said spades 5 and With the scoop members; means being provided upon said scoop members for releasing the loclr so as to allow Jche scoop mem ber to discharge its contents; means like Wise being provided whereby the conveyor 10. ma7 be moved upwardly or downwardly tov regulate the depth of trench to be dug.

9. A trench digger, including an endless conveyer, spade members and scoop mem-- bers associated with said conveyer, means 15 for moving said conveyer and means for verticalizing said conveyer, so that a vertical trench may bedug regardless of the slope of the ground upon which said eonveyer is operated; said scoop members being pvotc side of Jche Jerench digger for further disposition.

ln testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of tivo subscribing` Witnesses.

JOHN C. RADOVCH. llitnesses J. Grimm BROWN, EDNA TURNER. 

